Showing posts with label AMH. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AMH. Show all posts

Sunday, March 11, 2018

AMH Loominous Quilt Finish



Anna Marie Horner Loominous 
Quilt Kit from Craftsy


I've written about the charm of quilt kits from Craftsy in the past, and how they're great to have on hand when you need a quick quilt. The fabric is pulled, the pattern is included, and they mail it to you. (It's like pizza delivery.) I think, "A lot of bang for little effort (and buck) on my part." When this kit went on sale, I snapped it up. I had seen the Loominous line in stores, and it was not your run of the mill quilting fabric. This woven draped more like luxurious chambray with light body, and felt so soft! I knew I would love it next to my cheek when snuggling with a quilt.

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Peek Show: The Surprise Inside! Mystery Boxes and Mini Swaps



Let me start this post by saying I am an affiliate for Craftsy. What that means is I advertise for them here on Pink Doxies. If you choose to click on their link, and then buy something after clicking through this site, I receive a small payment. That's what advertising is all about, but not this post.

I also buy through Craftsy myself. They are one of my favorite online stores, and often carry fabric sales of Mystery Boxes. Did you ever try to guess what the fabrics might be? I've always been curious, and couldn't stand it any longer so I bought one to see. Care to peek inside with me?


This was my bundle, shrink-wrapped in plastic and boxed. There were 14 bundles, each a full yard. Total price was $48.07 making each yard cost $3.43. Let's have a look.

This is a Free Spirit bundle, and I generally like Free Spirit fabrics--a point we should consider first. I think their fabrics are just a little bit different from the mainstream in a good way. They definitely appeal to my style.

 Riddles and Rhymes by Tina Givens



Anna Marie Horner, Denise Schmidt, and Parson Gray



Fox Playground by Dena



Garden by David Walker



Paw Prints by Kathy Davis



What I thought: I was glad to see some coordinating prints. They might not all have been exactly what I would have chosen in walking through a store, but if I saw them for under $3.50 a yard I would likely have picked many of them. The ones that are a little less my style will expand my stash. Not a single one disappointed me, and I will definitely try it again. This was a good surprise.

Here's another wonderful surprise! My Anna Marie Horner mini quilt swap package arrived last night. Isn't it beautiful? Thank you, Tracey in Florida! I'm so thrilled.


There was an entire goody bag inside! I didn't send extras to my own partner, and regretted it after I was so spoiled with all of this. Tea, a mug rug, wrist strap for my billfold, charm squares, and home made dog biscuits for the girls.


#annamariehornerminiquiltswap



My own cone flowers burst into bloom just days ago. It seems as if their timing was just perfectly matched with the special delivery. 



Doesn't this make you want to surprise someone with something fun? It does me. I have a surprise of my own I'm working on, and need to get done before this weekend. Can you get yours done to share on the Pet Project Show this Saturday? I hope so. You make the most beautiful things!

Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.



Linking up with~
SewFreshQuilts

Friday, June 26, 2015

Anna Marie Horner Mini Quilt Swap Finish


 Instagram has an allure all its own for quilters and quilter bloggers. There are quick fabric deals made daily. Want to re-vamp your stash? Grab a stack, snap a picture, and name your price. Someone may be looking for just that thing, and you might become friends in the meantime. There are posts by companies for new products and sales, but only if you follow them. Sometimes they'll have link ups and giveaways, too. Fun! People throw out pictures of whatever they're working on, and some are very inspiring projects. And, if you're interested in trying out a swap, it's heaven! There are oodles of mini quilt swaps, and Kate Basti does an amazing job of managing many of them. #katebasti #annamariehornerminiquiltswap

This was my first, and I signed up almost without hesitation because it was Anna Marie Horner fabric. I adore her prints! As you can see, I survived it, and got my mini mailed out this past Monday. My swap partner got her package already, so I feel safe posting my finish now.

The backing is one of the few fabric not in the Folk Song line, but still AMH. It's called "Innocent Crush."



My personal goal is to always push outside my comfort zone, so I did something I'd never done. I decided to add pearl cottons to this mini. Working with large eye embroidery needles, I actually quilted through the orange fabric and all the layers. It was hard work, but can be done. When I got to the corners, I lifted the fabric, and just stitched through the top layer. Easier, longer stitches, and it showed off the pink and salmon threads better. There are additional stitches and French knots in the main part of the mini, too.



The binding is the only semi-stripey fabric I had left, and I cut it so it showed some striping. I machine stitched it to the back, and turned it to the front. I kept with the spirit of hand quilting, and hand stitched it to to the front. I admit that I actually enjoyed finishing the binding this time. I wanted one last intimate look before I mailed it off.


I'm waiting on my package to arrive, and am excited to see what someone might make me. Whatever it is, I will be delighted. There are a lot of different skill levels involved in a swap, and you never know what you'll get. What you do know is that someone out there lovingly made a gift for you, hoping you'll appreciate it as much as the one you've sent. It teaches us to be gracious receivers as much as generous gifters.

Have a wonderful weekend, and don't forget to link up to the Pink Doxies Pet Project Show tomorrow. You may post as many links as you'd like as long as they are posts or links you've created in the past week.

Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Anna Marie Horner Mini Quilt Swap & Slow Stiching Sunday




Earlier this year, I signed up for the Anna Marie Horner Mini Quilt Swap on Instagram. Kate Basti is hostessing, and past members had such nice things to say about her swaps. I'd never been in one of any kind, but AMH! I had to! She was one of the first designers whose style attracted me back to quilting. The past minis from other swaps were gorgeous. Wow! These were some talented sewists, and I was worried I wouldn't measure up.

I ordered a fat quarter package of 'Folk Song',
and pulled out my high tech design tools--a pencil and some paper. This was the original drawing I started with, and I kept true to it. I integrated a few Missouri Star Quilt Co. templates I had purchased, but never used. I have to tell you these weren't made to be used together, and I had to do some tweaking at the corner diamonds.


I have one last line of hand quilting to stitch with my Aurifil 50#, and I feel like the teal corners need a bit of the coral and pink pearl cottons. Then it's time for binding, and I have a print in mind already.




#annamariehornerminiquiltswap 
#teamhonorroll 
#katebasti
#pinkdoxies


You might remember my cell phone and camera sling bag was made with the same fabric line, and another AMH I had in my stash.

I brought my mini home to work on thinking some slow stitching would be a nice change. It's been a busy week, and there's something theraputic about working with your project on your lap instead of zipping it through a machine. You see your work differently.

I've also wanted to link up to the Slow Sunday Stitching for some time. Kathy is a Canadian quilter after my own heart. She is also a scrapaholic, and is involved in quilting for Mennonite Central Committee



I haven't made any quilts for the auction like she has, but the women at First Mennonite Church in Sugarcreek do. They are an inspiring group. They meet every week to hand quilt on frames, while others ladies make utility quilts. These are gathered together in one location, packed, and sent to areas of the world where there is need. I machine bound two for them, and they will soon be on their way to a family in need. The scrappy ladies make sure they are colorful, cheery, and warm.




Thunderstorm pounded our area today, and I unplugged all my machines to make sure they weren't hit. We've lost small appliances before, and I've started unplugging my multi-strips when I leave for the day. It only takes a moment.

I spent the time cleaning up, and finishing some Moda Modern Building Blocks. You can see I filled the center of the largest block here, but I'm not satisfied with the inside grey. I think I'll replace it with the hanging print. 

By all rights, I should have thought through the whole project before starting blocks, but I was so excited to just make something! Now I'm hitting a wall, and have second thoughts about the palette. I'm not sure I like the colors I'm using, but I've been trying to follow the recommended solids as closely as possible. I may need to tweak it.



The last picture to share is the new/old stash on my floor. I went to a friend's house last week for a little fabric swap. Oo-la-la!
I know these don't look like my typical picks, but there are some projects in the Quilt Lovely book that beg for some vintage fabric. 

I'm interested obsessed in blending my vintage and modern stashes, and need to prove to myself it will work in projects. Jen Kingwell does it, and I am looking forward to learning how. 'Mrs. Bannister's Stars' pillow project starts today.


What's your plan for the month of June? Are you having a holiday weekend now, and enjoying some well earned family time? Do you have an idea for a project to be ready for July 4th? Are you working on your finishes for A Lovely Year of Finishes? Or, perhaps, Q2 Finish-Along for On the Windy Side?

Leave a comment to inspire your fellow sewists to get active in their creative space, and Be Makers this month! I applaud you all.

Link up with the Pink Doxies' Pet Project Show until Monday at midnight, and show off your latest make.


Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.




Linking up with~
Cooking Up Quilts
Hug-a-Bit Quilts
Show and Tell Monday
Molli Sparkles
Slow Stitching Sunday

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Modern Heart Zip Bag

I thought my little orphan block would be 
helped by framing.There were some darker strips 
that I’d decided were a bit too dark, but that 
was after I’d sewn it together.  I think the deep 
purple helped the colors pop, and the low 
volume background recede.  

To give it a little edgier look, I offset the border. 
This gave me both a solid color, and larger space 
to add some SLQ as an accent, and I had fun. 
It’s just a little pattern of crossing lines that 
ensures the sandwich is secure.

The backing was a diagonal print to start with,
and I marked every 1/2" with a chalk pencil.
I chose not to quilt every line, though, and 
picked a few here and there to keep it random. 
I used Aurifil #2309, my go-to 
off-white quilting thread in 50 wt.


I used a little contrasting fabric on each end of my 
zipper to get a good fit. I always use nylon zippers 
with bags! Metal zippers look very cool and hip, 
but those teeth can destroy your manicure in 
a heartbeat when you’re trying to get in and 
out of a bag--not that I have a mani, you know.

I chose to sew down the zipper on the inside
instead of finishing all the edges. Just the 
tiniest bit showed out from underneath.


The backing is a diagonal print from the ‘Elementary’ 
line from ‘Moda’. I like how it helps the bag 
from looking ‘too cute’.

I sewed front and back pieces wrong sides together 
in a scant ¼" seam. Then I added a Anna Marie 
Horner floral binding. It created contrast on the 
back, and picked up the heart fabrics in the front.



Tah-dah!
I wonder what I should do with it now?



I'm thankful for the rains this spring,
and our beautiful show of blooms.
The azaleas are in full bloom now,
and I'm awaiting my pink poppies.

Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go outside and enjoy the sunshine
until the mosquitoes eat us up!